David shot the man a look, "Look, whatever Zelena did to you; you should talk about it. Get it out of your system-"

"I don't want any reminders to what that witch did to me-"

"It'll only be one time you tell. After that it would be over and you can get on with your life-"

"What life exactly would I be getting on with? I have nothing!"

"You have Belle-"

"Who will leave me when she finds out just how little I can care for her, after Zelena…"

David paused, "She really messed you up didn't she?"

"I'm not talking about this!" Rumpelstiltskin tried to yank his arm out of Charming's grip, but the prince was stronger. "Let go of me!" he snarled.

"Rumpelstiltskin-"

"Let go!"

"Just listen to me-"

"Let go!"

The push was something Charming couldn't have prepared for; it was magic and powerful and it knocked him flat on his back. It was bright purple and for a while he thought the magic might have blinded him. He sat up with a grunt and rubbed his eyelids, feeling something burn. He squinted when he heard the shallow breaths, having a hard time to focus. Soon though, his eyes found Rumpelstiltskin, practically with his head between his knees and both hands over his ears.

"Just shut up!" the sorcerer screeched. "Why do you have to meddle?" he cried, not looking up from the asphalt. He hissed as he tried to draw a full breath, "Why do you always have to meddle?!"

David scrambled to his feet and was by Rumpelstiltskin's side in an instant, "Okay, calm down-"

"I can't ever get rid of that witch's voice in my head, and every time I try to get it all to go away, one of you always has to-" Rumpelstiltskin cut himself off with a choked sound. The inhale sounded guttural, "Just shut up about her for once! Shut up!"

"Okay, I'm sorry," David nearly shouted in his hurry to get the words out. "Just try to calm down-"

"Shut up!"

Another burst of magic blinded David and he turned his head away, feeling the glow pass over him and disappear. He knew almost instantly something was wrong. It was too quiet. He looked at Rumpelstiltskin, but the Dark One wasn't meeting his gaze. His chest went up and down at a fast pace, but there was no sound. Quiet. Like, silence, but not really silent; he could hear his heart beating. He opened his mouth to ask, but as he spoke, nothing came out.

It was quiet.

He grabbed Rumpelstiltskin's upper arms and tried to gain eye contact.

The eyes that met his were wide and pained.